mcclaff

Wher you get these from Blackdog?

Was planning to ask the same question myself so thanks for bringing up the topic. I read and hear all the time about the importance of good ventilation but noone ever gives details or models explaining how to achieve the best airflow and loft conditions. I know also that mine is crap at the minute so after much thought i plan to change it and would appreciate the thoughts of others on what i plan to do. I want to build a corridor and a 5ft avairy with perspex roof along the entire length of the loft and leave a 4 inch wide gap in the roof at the ridge between loft and avairy that i'll cover with a felt ridge tile about 2 inches higher than the roof, (hard to explain this this without a pencil and paper). I will also make wider gaps at the back of the loft, (under the roof) and try to achieve airflow above the birds. I hope the perspex roof over the corridor will create more heat in the loft and hopefully cause the air to rise into the flow as it heats up and take the humidity out of the air. My main problem at the minute seems to be humidity. My loft is surrounded by trees and bushes and the air inside seems damp unless the sun is splittin the rocks outside. If i leave droppings in the loft for more than 3 or 4 days then they start to get hairy so somethins wrong. This is a real problem in our northern irish summer that seems to be more tropical rainstorm in July/August than summer sun. I know i'll get told to clean out more but i would like to use a dry droppings/deep litter system as i think in the long run it'll be good for the immune system but obviously not until i get the ventilation right. Thoughts very much appreciated

I bought "Champions Vol 5" by Ernst Nebel - very good book and i'm told the other volumes are equally as good. Can't remember what i paid for it but it was worth it anyway. Geoff Cooper is in this one too and others like Koopman, Roger Florizoone, Kipp & Son, Verkerk, Mike Ganus etc, etc. 25 fanciers in total with detailed accounts of feeding systems, training, breeding etc. Any excellant reference book to pick a system to follow that suits your needs. There should be something for everyone in this book. I should probably read it again and stop with all the choppin and changin! :-/

Got a bargain there mate, just about half price all in, well done!

i bought this book when it first came out, a great read, thoroughly recommend it. In depth interviews with top long distance fanciers, lots of great tips and ideas. If you look on ebay i see them for sale cheaper than from the pigeon magazines. Enjoy

Thanks all, just been speaking to him.

Hi all Can anyone help. I'm looking for phone number for Chris of Vallance lofts. I need to get in touch quickly to arrange pick up of yb's bought recently. He hasn't been online in the past 24 hrs or so hence the public request. Thanks in advance

Sorry to hear about your trouble Roland, nearly quit myself after a disaster in the winter past but don't think i could do without them. I will definately be keeping less pigeons with all birds flying out. Going to enjoy them more in future. From what i hear and read it seems that it can be difficult to race young from new stock into a new area. I know some fanciers who have had the same pigeons for a long time with a few introductions along the way and they don't seem to lose too many birds and they always have birds that work their way home sometime if they do get lost. I started again almost 4 year ago and I always lose young birds off the roof early in the year, always did and i put it down to the fact that they don't feel at home and i can live with that cause it leaves more room for the ones that do want to be there. I put very little pressure on young birds as i don't care for young bird racing too much and try more to work on an affection for home. In saying that i had 2 races to 169 miles and lost 6 out of the 15 i started. I have 9 that want to be there and i'll settle for that. Chin up m8, better times lie ahead i'm sure

Most of my young were reared on the floor this year, (deep litter). Not a one got pecked and they were all well fed cause when they started moving about the floor all the old bird were lining up to feed anything that made a noise. They also started eating out of the troughs, drinking and ventureing outside earlier than b4 - just following by example i suppose. There is definately more to learn on the floor than in a nestbox - i may do it again next year. There could have been problems though if there had been only one or two squeakers on the floor. Gerry

I notice Mick your in Ireland and might be able to help me. You wouldn't happen to have a number for John Miller as i need a couple of birds brought over from Lincolnshire to Northern Ireland. I've seen his number somewhere b4 but now that i'm looking for it, no sign if it. Thanks Gerry

nice birds stu, what sort of distances are they winning at?

Thanks all Plenty of food for thought now

Thanks Sean I've had a look and it seems it might be what i'm after. I'll download the demo and have a go. Has anyone else got any experience of using this software? Thanks again Sean

Hi all I would like to ask members of the forum for their thoughts on what's the best pc software for producing club race results. I have been given the task of purchasing software to bring the club a bit more up to date next season and would like to hear what other clubs are using and how they find the system, i.e. how good is it and how easy is it to use etc. I've searched the web and whilst i've found a couple of systems i'd rather listen to opinions of others with experience. An idea of approx cost would also be useful. Thanks very much G. McClafferty